Jabez ambrose packer



N0. 603,79l. Patented Aug. 9, I898. J. A. PACKER. ARTIFICIAL LIMB. (Application filed May 14, 1597.)

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JABEZ AMBROSE PAGKER, OF \VELLING'ION, NEW ZEALAND.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 608,791, dated August 9, 1898.

Application filed May 14, 1897.

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J ABEZ AMBROSE PACKER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 54 Lambton Quay, in the city of VVellington, in the Colony of New Zealand, have invented Improvements in Artificial Limbs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention.

This invention relates to artificial limbs used by persons who have lost a limb by amputation or are deficient in that respect from other causes; and the object of the invention is to provide an artificial limb which will be adjustable in length to suit a growing person and which shall have the action of the ankle in an artificial leg so constructed that it will not be liable to get out of repair.

The object of the invention is carried into effect by constructing the limb with an outside appearance closely resembling existing manufactures.

The lower part of the limb is adjusted by means of a strong screw and steady-pins which are fixed into a plate secured upon a block above the ankle or wrist joint and pass through a corresponding plate secured to the bottom of the lower part of the socket, through the bottom of the socket, and through another plate above the bottom. By releasing the nut inside the socket may be separated from the block and foot, a thickness of material inserted, as required, to lengthen this part of the limb, and the whole screwed rigidly together.

In dispensing with steel springs for the ankle action a tongue is formed upon the before-mentioned block and extends downward into the heel. Cavities are formed within the heel to receive a block of india-rubber at the back and front of the tongue. These rubber blocks form the springs, act as leaders or tendons, and are kept in position by a loose sole-piece which is screwed to the foot.

In order that the invention may be most easily understood, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings while giving a detailed description.

Figure 1 is a side View of an artificial leg fitted with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a section on line A B, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line C D, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows another Serial No. 636,552. (No model.)

method of forming the lower adjustment. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the block used for increasing the length of the limb.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts. For the purposes of illustration an artificial leg constructed for a growing person is shown, it being obvious that a skilled person may readily adapt the principle to other limbs.

Upon the drawings the upper socket a is constructed somewhat like existing forms and is provided with lace-holes a,whereby it may be let out as the limb grows thicker. The slide 6 is securely. attached to the socket a and fits within a socket b, which is attached to part of joint 0. The holes b are made in the socket Z) and slide 7) and threaded to take the screws b and being equidistant they pro- Vlde for the slide being secured in the socket, as required,within the range of the said holes. To adjust the lower part of the limb, a plate d is fixed upon the block (I and is provided with a strong screw 01 and steady-pins 61 In securing the screw to the plate I prefer to make the end d square in section, fit it into a square hole in the thickened portion of the plate, and rivet it into the countersink; but it is obvious that the screw may be screwed into the plate cl and prevented from turning by riveting or brazing, or the pin may be secured by brazing alone or other ordinary method. The screw and pins pass through the plate f, the bottom e of the socket e, and the upper plate g. The plates f and g are fixed to the bottom 6 by ordinary screws and are riveted together by rivets g, with a thickness of the sides of the socket between the said plates. To screw up the nut (1 a box spanner or the like is passed down the hollow interior of the socket e, the cap 6 being removable for the purpose. To lengthen this lower part of the limb, the nut 61 is unscrewed to remove the block cl and foot j. A thickness of wood pierced to pass onto the screw (1 and pins 01 and shaped to correspond with the contour of the upper surface of block cl is then placed upon the block, the parts replaced, and the nut screwed up until the whole is rigidly secured. Blocks of different thicknesses and pierced and cut to shape are supplied with the limb. In order to provide a sufficient bearingsurface for the screw d? and preventthe same from being worn by the edges of plates d and g, a tube 9 is fitted to extend from one plate to the other and the screw passed through the same.

In forming the ankle action the block d has a tongue d, which is provided with rubber springs h and h, inclosed in cavities formed in the footj and retained in position by the sole-piece j. Nuts j are let int-0 the foot from the outside to receive screws f.

When the stump of the wearer is too long to allow sufficient room for an internal screw, the method shown on Fig. 4 is adopted, where the exterior screws 70 and 7t replace the screw d and pins 01 of Figs. 1 and 2, the nuts being adjustable from the outside. The screws 70 and 70 maybe placed at the sides of the limb or at the back and front, as shown, and may 7 be spaced farther apart and the bucket hollowed out to allow for a longer stump.

The limb is covered with leather to strengthen and bind the parts together and provide a finish to the whole.

I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details hereinbefore set forth, as these may be modified by a skilled person without departing from the spirit of the same. It is obvious that I may use slides and sockets 011 the lower part in place of the screw and steady-pins in cases where the leg has been amputated near the ankle-bone.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In combination, the upper socket a, the footsection, the leg-section with means for pivotally connecting the same with both the upper socket and the foot-section, said leg-section having separable parts with the screw d for holding them together and the steadypins, said upper socket and the foot-section being pivotally connected with the leg-section, substantially as described.

JABEZ AMBROSE PACKER.

Witnesses:

WALTER ALEXANDER, A. S. CoLLINs. 

